If you've ever been to or hosted a party, you know how tough breaking the ice can be. At your next gathering, try introducing friends by explaining what you value about them. This is more likely to lead to an interesting conversation between the two new people than if you stick to the standards, like what they do for a living.

By introducing people in this way, you break the boundaries set by job titles, show another aspect of who they are, and give the group a way to quickly build a deeper connection. If you don't want to get too personal, you can use a "light" reason you value the person—such as their culinary abilities, selfless volunteer work, or another talent they have. Don't limit yourself to using this technique only at social gatherings, you can easily apply it to networking events. For more on the idea behind this method, check out the full post linked below.